Now joining in on the backlash against Trump is former House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Ryan on Trump’s current bid for reelection
During a sitdown with Teneo Political Risk Advisory, the former House Speaker made it clear he’s got no love lost for Trump. Ryan denounced the former president as a “narcissist” with “authoritarian” and “populist” tendencies.
He also asserted Trump isn’t at all a conservative.
In further remarks, Ryan said Trump doesn’t think about politics from a liberal vs. conservative point of view. Instead, the former House Speaker believes Trump adheres to whatever will increase his popularity and make him feel good.
The former president’s supporters often point to his perceived popularity within the GOP. However, Ryan simply attributed this to Trump taking on culture war issues that appeal to conservatives with more populist leanings.
Before Ryan departed Congress in 2019, he and Trump maintained a friendly political alliance. That’s since fallen apart, as the 45th president and his supporters often deem the former House Speaker as a “RINO (Republican in Name Only).”
